Arsenal _top_ | 4

"Fourth is not a trophy," chanted rival fans. But for a generation of young Arsenal fans, 4th was the safety net that kept the club in Europe’s elite while the debt was paid off.

As we look at the current Arsenal squad under Mikel Arteta, the number 4 is reclaiming its positive shine. 4 arsenal

While "4 Arsenal" refers to a shirt, it also refers to the legendary defense. Tony Adams, Martin Keown, Steve Bould, and Nigel Winterburn (later joined by Lee Dixon) perfected the offside trap. This unit conceded a record low of 17 goals in the 1998/99 season. In this context, "4" represents the collective defensive unit—a wall that moved as one. "Fourth is not a trophy," chanted rival fans